FDA acts to limit antibiotic use in animals

Food-producers raising chickens, pigs, cattle and other animals will have to consult veterinarians before dispensing antibiotics also used as human medicine, the FDA announced today as part of a plan to cut back on animal consumption of the drugs.

The main goal is to end the use of antibiotics on entire herds or flocks for the purpose of making the animals grow faster. Within three years, the FDA and USDA expect drug use on farms and ranches to drop significantly.

The FDA has been under pressure for years by health and food safety advocates to crack down on the widespread use of antibiotics to promote growth or prevent illness. Overuse in animals has been linked to antibiotic resistance in people, meaning important medicines become ineffective.

The FDA’s plan is a “voluntary initiative” to phase in a more “judicious” use of antibiotics in animals. The federal agency released three documents today instructing farmers, veterinarians and animal producers to use antibiotics only to target animal illness. And FDA officials intend to work with animal health companies to help them discontinue the sale of antibiotics labeled only for enhanced growth.

An outright ban on antibiotics for growth would result in years of legal battles, millions of dollars in costs and possible disruption of meat production, the FDA said.

“The new strategy will ensure farmers and veterinarians can care for animals while ensuring the medicines people need remain safe and effective,” FDA Commissioner Margaret Hamburg said.

The National Pork Producers Council said the initiative will have a negative effect on animal health, will increase the cost of food and have no impact on human resistance to antibiotics. The plan is also unfair to small producers, the council said.

The initiative was first proposed in June 2010, with more specifics released today.

Electa Draper is the health writer for The Denver Post and has covered every news beat in a 22-year journalism career at three newspapers. She has a bachelor's degree in biology and a master's in journalism.